99 Bible Verses about Ambition

Here are 99 Bible verses about ambition, curated from both the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible, King James Version, arranged from most to least relevant.

Luke 9:25 KJV

25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Matthew 6:33 KJV

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33 KJV Image

Matthew 23:12 KJV

12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

1 Timothy 6:9 KJV

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Philippians 2:4 KJV

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Philippians 2:4 KJV Image

1 John 2:16 KJV

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1 John 2:16 KJV Image

John 5:44 KJV

44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

James 4:1-2 KJV

1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Philippians 2:3 KJV

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Philippians 2:3 KJV Image

Romans 15:20 KJV

20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:

James 4:2 KJV

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Matthew 16:26 KJV

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 16:26 KJV Image

Romans 12:16 KJV

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Romans 12:16 KJV Image

Matthew 23:5-7 KJV

5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

Matthew 4:8-10 KJV

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Romans 2:8 KJV

8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

1 Corinthians 10:24 KJV

24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

1 Corinthians 10:24 KJV Image

Galatians 5:19-21 KJV

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of …

Philippians 2:3-4 KJV

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

1 Peter 5:5 KJV

5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Galatians 5:26 KJV

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Colossians 2:8 KJV

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Revelation 1:1 KJV

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

2 Corinthians 12:20 KJV

20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

1 Corinthians 3:3 KJV

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Galatians 1:10 KJV

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

James 3:14 KJV

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

James 3:14-16 KJV

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Galatians 2:20 KJV

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20 KJV Image

1 Thessalonians 4:11 KJV

11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

1 Thessalonians 4:11 KJV Image

Colossians 3:23 KJV

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Colossians 3:23 KJV Image

1 Corinthians 14:12 KJV

12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Luke 22:26 KJV

26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

Matthew 5:6 KJV

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Jeremiah 45:5 KJV

5 And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

James 3:16 KJV

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

James 1:22 KJV

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

James 1:22 KJV Image

1 Timothy 3:1 KJV

1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

Luke 14:11 KJV

11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 14:11 KJV Image

Isaiah 14:12-15 KJV

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most …

Psalm 119:36 KJV

36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

Psalm 40:8 KJV

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Jeremiah 33:3 KJV

3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Jeremiah 33:3 KJV Image

1 Corinthians 3:2 KJV

2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

John 4:34 KJV

34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Psalm 90:17 KJV

17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Daniel 5:18-23 KJV

18 O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: 19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. 20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in …

Isaiah 5:8 KJV

8 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!

2 Samuel 18:18 KJV

18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 KJV

11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Philippians 1:17 KJV

17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

Mark 9:33-37 KJV

33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. …

Proverbs 21:15 KJV

15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

1 Kings 1:5 KJV

5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

Revelation 21:8 KJV

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

1 Peter 3:8 KJV

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 KJV

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Matthew 7:12 KJV

12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Revelation 11:1-19 KJV

1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall …

1 Peter 5:8 KJV

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Philippians 2:7 KJV

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Galatians 6:2 KJV

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Galatians 5:3 KJV

3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

1 Corinthians 12:31 KJV

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

John 3:16-17 KJV

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Isaiah 14:13-14 KJV

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Galatians 5:1-26 KJV

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever …

2 Corinthians 5:9 KJV

9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Romans 12:10 KJV

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Matthew 23:11-12 KJV

11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Habakkuk 2:5 KJV

5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

3 John 1:9 KJV

9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

Hebrews 10:35-36 KJV

35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 KJV

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

2 Thessalonians 2:4 KJV

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Philippians 3:13-14 KJV

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:1-21 KJV

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence …

Philippians 1:1-30 KJV

1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, …

Galatians 5:2 KJV

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

1 Corinthians 3:19 KJV

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

Romans 1:2 KJV

2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

Luke 4:5-8 KJV

5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8 And Jesus answered and said unto …

Mark 10:35-45 KJV

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know …

Matthew 6:19-20 KJV

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Habakkuk 2:6 KJV

6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!

Ezekiel 31:10-11 KJV

10 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; 11 I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.

Jeremiah 29:1-32 KJV

1 Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon; 2 (After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were …

Ecclesiastes 5:10 KJV

10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 KJV Image

Proverbs 16:1-33 KJV

1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord. 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits. 3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. 4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. …

Psalm 131:1-2 KJV

1 Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. 2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.

Psalm 49:11-13 KJV

11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. 12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. 13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

Esther 5:9-13 KJV

9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. 11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his …

James 3:18 KJV

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

James 3:18 KJV Image

James 1:19-20 KJV

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 11:1-40 KJV

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he …

Mark 8:1-38 KJV

1 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, 2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. 4 And …

Job 20:5-9 KJV

5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? 6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; 7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he? 8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a …

2 Kings 19:23 KJV

23 By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.